In today’s fast-paced world, smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. They help us stay connected with our loved ones and the world. With the increasing use of iPhones, one of the essential things is to ensure maximum productivity with minimum effort. An Auto Text is an excellent way to speed up your typing by allowing you to store frequently used words, phrases or sentences. This feature can save you a lot of time and effort. In this blog post, we will discuss the steps to set an Auto Text on an iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Set an Auto Text on iPhone
The Auto Text feature on an iPhone can save you time and effort. You can use it to store frequently used words, phrases or sentences. The Auto Text feature is beneficial if you have to type a long email or message, and you don’t want to type the same content again and again. By setting an Auto Text, you can save significant time, making your typing experience more efficient.
Moreover, the Auto Text feature is handy for those who constantly use abbreviations or acronyms. If you have a term or phrase that you abbreviate frequently, you can use the Auto Text feature to save the abbreviation and have your iPhone replace it with the full term. Imagine typing ‘FYI’ a hundred times a day. By setting an Auto Text, you can have your phone replace the abbreviation with the full term ‘For Your Information.’
Method 1: Using the Built-in Auto Text Feature
Setting up an Auto Text on an iPhone is effortless. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on the General option.
Step 3: Tap on the Keyboard option.
Step 4: Select the Text Replacement option.
Step 5: Tap on the + sign located in the upper right-hand corner.
Step 6: Type the phrase or sentence that you want to use as your Auto Text in the Phrase field.
Step 7: Type in the shortcut in the Shortcut field. The shortcut should be a few letters long and will be used to replace the phrase or sentence you just typed.
Step 8: Tap on Save in the upper right-hand corner.
Pros:
– The built-in Auto Text feature is free and doesn’t require any additional apps to be installed.
– Setting up Auto Text using this method is quick and easy.
– This method is reliable and has been tested by countless iPhone users.
Cons:
– The built-in Auto Text feature is limited and doesn’t offer as many features as some third-party apps.
Method 2: Using Third-Party Keyboard Apps
There are several third-party keyboard apps available, such as Gboard, Swiftkey, and Grammarly Keyboard. These apps not only offer an Auto Text feature but also provide additional features such as autocorrect, spell check, and predictive text. The steps to set up an Auto Text using a third-party keyboard app may vary from app to app. Here’s how to set up an Auto Text using Gboard:
Step 1: Install the Gboard app from the App Store.
Step 2: Open Settings.
Step 3: Select the General option.
Step 4: Tap on the Keyboard option.
Step 5: Tap on the Add New Keyboard option and select Gboard.
Step 6: Open the Gboard app.
Step 7: Tap on the three dots located in the upper-left corner and select the Settings option.
Step 8: Tap on the Dictionary option.
Step 9: Select Personal Dictionary.
Step 10: Tap on the + sign located in the upper right-hand corner.
Step 11: Type the phrase or sentence that you want to use as your Auto Text in the Phrase field.
Step 12: Type in the shortcut in the Shortcut field.
Step 13: Tap on Save in the upper right-hand corner.
Pros:
– Third-party keyboard apps provide additional features like autocorrect, spell check, and predictive text.
– These apps often have a more extensive library of emojis and GIFs than the built-in keyboard.
Cons:
– Third-party keyboard apps require permissions for full access to function correctly, which may be a privacy concern for some users.
– Some keyboard apps may be overly complicated, leading to a long learning curve.
Method 3: Using a Text Replacement App like TextExpander
TextExpander is a text replacement app that lets you insert snippets of text using predefined abbreviations. It is a paid app but is worth the investment if you frequently use abbreviations or acronyms in your typing. The steps to set up an Auto Text using TextExpander are as follows:
Step 1: Install TextExpander from the App Store.
Step 2: Open TextExpander and create a new snippet.
Step 3: Type the phrase or sentence that you’d like to use as your Auto Text in the Content field.
Step 4: In the Abbreviation field, type in the abbreviation that you want to use to trigger the Auto Text.
Step 5: Tap on Save in the upper right-hand corner.
Pros:
– TextExpander provides a wide range of options to customize and organize snippets.
– The app works with any app that takes text input on your iPhone.
Cons:
– TextExpander is a paid app.
– The app may be overwhelming to use for users unfamiliar with text replacement.
What to Do If You Can’t Set an Auto Text on iPhone
If you’re having trouble setting an Auto Text on your iPhone, here are some fixes:
1. Restart your iPhone. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve software issues that may be preventing you from setting an Auto Text.
2. Update your iOS version to the latest version. The latest update may have bug fixes that could be causing the issue.
3. Try another method. If one method doesn’t work, there are several alternatives that you can use.
Bonus Tip
One useful feature in iOS is the ability to import and export text replacements. This feature can help users avoid manually entering each abbreviation or phrase, making setting up an Auto Text faster and easier. Here’s how to import and export text replacements:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on Keyboard.
4. Tap on the Text Replacement option.
5. Click on the three dots located in the upper-right corner.
6. Tap on Import/Export Text Replacements.
7. Select the action you want to take, either Import or Export.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I use Auto Text for emojis?
A: Yes, you can. You can copy and paste the emoji that you’d like to use as your Auto Text into the Phrase field.
Q2: How many shortcuts can I create?
A: You can create an unlimited number of shortcuts on your iPhone.
Q3: Does setting an Auto Text affect autocorrect?
A: No, setting an Auto Text does not affect autocorrect and spelling suggestions.
Q4: Is Auto Text available on all iPhones?
A: Yes, Auto Text is available on all iPhones running the latest version of iOS.
Q5: Can I delete an Auto Text once I’ve set it up?
A: Yes, you can delete Auto Text shortcuts by going to the Text Replacement option in Settings and swiping left on the shortcut you want to delete.
Final Thoughts
Setting up an Auto Text on an iPhone is a quick and easy process that can save you time and effort. Whether you choose to use the built-in Auto Text feature or a third-party app, an Auto Text will help you type more efficiently. By following the steps provided in this blog post, you’ll be able to set up an Auto Text in no time. Don’t forget to try the bonus tip for importing and exporting your text replacements to save even more time.
